Investing in Maryland's people - O'Malley signs training fund into law

There's one new law that has not received a lot of attention, but that will be a big help for Maryland workers and for Maryland's future economy.

Governor O'Malley signed HB 457 yesterday, establishing a transportation infrastructure training program using federal dollars. This is a really smart policy. A small portion of our transportation budget can mean job skills and a path to employment for so many workers who need a solid start that leads to family-supporting wages. It also positions Maryland's economy to build on our strength of a well-prepared workforce.

Maryland will now become the second state in the nation to permanently commit the 0.5% to job training and to ensure ongoing monitoring of the spending.  Passage of this legislation will also allow for the continued support of Project BuildUP, an on-the-job training program that serves workers across the state.

The federal government allows states to dedicate up to one half of one percent of their federal surface transportation and bridge dollars to training programs for under-represented and disadvantaged populations. This amounts to over a million dollars that Maryland could spend on construction and infrastructure training for minority, disadvantaged, and female workers, and to connect workers to actual jobs after completing the program.

The Maryland Department of Transportation took the first step toward developing these programs by creating the BuildUp program.  HB 457 guarantees that the money made available by the federal government will be used for training programs, linking workforce development with job development.


Congratulations to the Maryland Department of Transportation and great advocates (like the Job Opportunities Task Force) for promoting this forward-looking investment in Maryland's people.

The Week Ahead

Monday, February 13th

• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds a budget hearing on the DPSCS Division of Correction.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.
• House Education and Economic Development and Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittees hold a joint budget hearing on college completion.  1:30 pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Mental Hygiene Administration and the MD Institute Emergency Medical Services Systems.  3pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Maryland Department of Transportation, including debt service requirements and the Maryland Port Administration.  3pm in room 120, House Office Building.

Tuesday, February 14^th

• Senate Budget and Taxation Committee holds budget hearings on the State Reserve Fund, payments to civil divisions, and the Interagency Fund for Children and Youth.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• House Environmental Matters Committee holds a hearing on HB 292, which would reduce the waiting period to apply for a driver’s license for adult drivers over the age of 25 who already have a learner’s permit.  1pm in the House Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on HB 331, which would increase the refundable portion of the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 25 percent to 30 percent of the federal EITC.  EITC is an important support for many low and moderate income families.  It is also important because it makes the tax code more equitable.  With so many important and needed tax increases on the table this session, increasing the refundable portion of the state EITC would ensure that those Marylanders least able to pay are not unduly burdened.  MBTPI Director Neil Bergsman will testify in support of this bill.  1pm in the House Office Building.

Wednesday, February 15^th

• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on aid to community colleges and Baltimore City Community College.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.
• House Health and Human Resources Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Aging, the Laboratories Administration (DHMH), and the Office of Health Care Quality (DHMH). 1pm in room 150, House Office Building.
• House Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Motor Vehicle Administration and the Department of Planning.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on HB 457, which would require MDOT to use the maximum amount of federal dollars available for training programs (the feds allow states to use up to a certain percentage of some grants for training).  MBTPI supports this job-creating bill.  1pm in the House Office Building.
• Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee holds a hearing on the HOME Act (SB 277/HB 168, fiscal note).  The Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act would prohibit housing discrimination based on source of income. MBTPI, Maryland Nonprofits, and many of our partners will submit testimony in support of this bill.  MBTPI’s testimony in support of the House version is available here.  1pm in the Senate Office Building.

Thursday, February 16^th

• House Education and Economic Development Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the UM Center for Environmental Science, Maryland Economic Development Corporation, the Maryland Technology Development Corp (TEDCO), and DLLR Business Regulation.  1pm in room 145, House Office Building.
• House Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Comptroller, the Department of General Services, DPSCS Division of Pretrial Detention and Services, DPSCS Patuxent Institution.  1pm in room 120, House Office Building.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds Budget Hearings on St Mary's College of Maryland, the Historic St Mary's City Commission, and MSDE Headquarters.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of Aging, the Laboratories Administration (DHMH), and the Office of Health Care Quality (DHMH).  1pm in Amoss, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration, and the Public Service Commission.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.

Friday, February 17^th

• House Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on the State Reserve Fund, payments to civil divisions, and the Interagency Fund for Children and Youth.  1pm in room 120, House Office Buidling.
• Senate Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee holds budget hearings on MSDE Aid to Education and the Maryland Stadium Authority.  1pm in 3 West, Senate Office Building.
• Senate Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment Subcommittee holds budget hearings on the Department of the Environment and the DPSCS Patuxent Institution.  1pm in Schweinhaut, Senate Office Building.